FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Robbie Wilbur
601/961-5277
September 22, 2009 MDEQ ANNOUNCES $5 MILLION IN WASTEWATER FUNDING FOR NATCHEZ WATER WORKS
(Jackson, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) announced today that the Natchez Water Works has been approved for a subsidized low-interest loan of $5,080,000 for wastewater infrastructure improvements. The funding is being made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and the Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund Program (WPCRLF) administered by MDEQ. The ARRA portion of the funding is a loan subsidy which will not have to be repaid. The WPCRLF portion will be repaid at a 1.75 percent interest rate over 20 years.
“We are pleased to award these funds to the Natchez Water Works. Properly constructed and maintained wastewater facilities are integral to protecting our environment and the public’s health, and we know this infrastructure will be of great benefit to Natchez,” said Trudy Fisher, MDEQ Executive Director.
"This project will immediately provide short term relief as well as long term benefits for our sewer system. Speaking on behalf of the city and our Board of Water Commissioners, we are extremely appreciative for the opportunity for Natchez to receive stimulus funds that have the potential to save us thousands of dollars in future operational costs," said David Gardner, Natchez Water Works Superintendent. "MDEQ has allowed us to be innovative with this program in providing solutions utilizing the latest in green technology."
The Natchez Water Works will receive $5,080,000 for a fine screen, replacement of activated sludge pumps, removal and land application of biosolids, construction of a sludge dewatering facility, construction of solar drying chambers, and other related equipment. The WPCRLF amount is $762,000 and the ARRA amount totals $4,318,000.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) appropriated $4.0 billion for Title VI EPA Capitalization Grants to the states’ Clean Water State Revolving Funds. Mississippi’s Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund (WPCRLF), administered by MDEQ, received $35,308,350. ARRA funds will be used, along with base WPCRLF Program loan funds, to jointly fund projects with the ARRA portion of each award in the form of a loan subsidy
Prior to final passage and enactment of ARRA, MDEQ conducted a comprehensive outreach campaign to alert potential borrowers of the possible availability of federal economic recovery stimulus funding. MDEQ then amended the FY-2009 WPCRLF Intended Use Plan to implement the funding in the most efficient manner, while providing the most benefit to the state. Details on the application and award process are in the amended Intended Use Plan which is available at:
http://www.deq.state.ms.us/MDEQ.nsf/pdf/SRF_FY-09IUPAmendment1/$File/IUPFY-09AmendmentNo1FINAL.pdf?OpenElement.
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